The Resurrection Body

Whew...never finished my Beth Moore notes!  The last section of 1 Corinthians 15 is about our bodies in the next life, our resurrection bodies.

I liked this part of Beth Moore's talk the most.  I heard her explain things in a way that I've never heard before, and in a way that makes so much sense to me.

First, she talked about the difference between our current, earthly bodies, and our spiritual, heavenly bodies.  They are definitely different.  1 Corinthians 15:40 says "There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another."   Doesn't get much more straightforward than that.

Now look at how these two bodies are compared: Paul talks about the body that is sown and the body that is raised.  Our earthly bodies are sown, like a seed, and are raised, like a plant.  That is how much difference there is between these two forms!  Our bodies right now, as intricate and stunning as they may be, are as lowly as seeds when compared to our future bodies.  Put a seed next to a full grown plant.  The seed is so dull and lifeless in comparison.  Ya, it's full of potential, but that's it.  Potential.  Same with us and our body.  What we have now is just a seed.  Dull and lifeless compared to what it could be.

We will have actual bodies in heaven - Beth referenced Jesus eating and being touched after he had risen from the dead.  These new bodies of ours will be better suited for the lives we will live.  We will live with God, and gaze upon Him daily.  Our bodies will be able to handle that.  In the old testament, God would not show His face to anyone, because He knew the effect it would have, He knew they wouldn't be able to deal with it.  We need to be able to deal with it in heaven.  Also, we will live forever.  Eternity.  Not a really, really long time.  Beyond time.  We need bodies that will stand up to that.  Our bodies right now start decaying as soon as we're born.  They weren't made to last for more than 100 years or so.  We need everlasting bodies.

It makes me think of Jesus' sacrifice in a new way.  We talk about him leaving his heavenly home, and coming to earth as a baby, a humble baby, to show us the way and then die for us.  But, you know what else he gave up? His heavenly form, his body.  He took on a human body.  He went from being a beautiful, full grown flower, to being a seed.  To dull and lifeless.  Wow.

I am thankful for Jesus's return to an earthly body to save my soul, and I am thrilled about the new body I will receive when I live with Jesus in heaven.  What an amazing thing it will be.